KOTA KINABALU: First, it was the floods, and now Sabahans want the state government to solve the never-ending water disruptions and shortages over the years.
Those who have yet to have basic tap water supply and who depend on gravity pipes, are also calling for assistance from the authorities.
They include villagers in Sabah’s rural areas, places like Beaufort, Sepanggar, Penampang and even within residential pockets in the city.
An elderly couple in Kota Belud said they have been wholly dependent on gravity pipes and rainwater for years, and had to go without water for days during the dry season.
“Luckily, there’s a stream nearby. But when this dries up, we’d depend on our children to buy bottled water for us,” said the elderly man who did not want to be named.
People in Pitas and those living close to rivers are a little more advantaged as they can still bathe and have a source of water whenever their gravity pipes fail.
“No water? Normal. It’s been years. We are old and we are used to it but I pity the youngsters because they can’t be living like us when it’s already the year 2021,” said a farmer in Pitas.
Sales executive Martha Martin, who is originally from Kg Dowokon Pitas but now lives in Kota Kinabalu, hopes that government leaders can help solve this problem for villagers.
In rural Paitan, it is the same. They don’t even have electricity.
“We want basic facilities like water and electricity supply,” said Nita Rahman, 26, from Kg Lubang Buaya, Paitan.
In Penampang, the water disruption issue has become more rampant following increased flooding over the past months, with many having to go without supply for a day or two.
Residents in Kg Terawi complained after the district was short of water supply for three days.
“What is happening? Where is the water supply?” asked Marcelus Puvok.
On the Sabah Water Department website, notices of water disruptions due to treatment plant maintenance and other issues are put up on a daily basis.
There is at least one district with a water shortage problem each day. On Thursday alone, at least 10 notices of water disruptions for different areas were issued.
State Public Works Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin urged Sabahans to be patient as the state government comes up with feasible solutions to the water supply woes.
He said while the state had short and long term plans to resolve the issue, the matter needed to be looked into thoroughly to prevent future problems.
“We are waiting for the full report and detailed analysis from our appointed consultants in order to come up with holistic measures to solve this problem,” he said, adding that any action must be measured carefully and carried out in phases.